WO2012126902A2

WO2012126902A2 - Entrance gate for an automatic parking garage having mechanism for centering a vehicle on the entrance gate

Info

Publication number: WO2012126902A2
Application number: PCT/EP2012/054866
Authority: WO
Inventors: Frido STUTZ
Original assignee: Skyline Parking Ag
Priority date: 2011-03-23
Filing date: 2012-03-20
Publication date: 2012-09-27
Also published as: WO2012126902A3

Abstract

An entrance gate and an automatic parking garage having such an entrance gate (110) are provided. The entrance gate includes two stationary ground plates (81); two trace plates (82, 83) thereabove, movable in the plane in any direction in a gliding manner, each for receiving thereon a front and rear wheel of a car; a stationary top plate (84) above the trace plates, having two opposing cut-out windows (85,86), with each trace plate (82, 83) exposed through one window (85, 86); and two centering plates (87, 88) above the top plate (84), on outer sides of the cut-out windows (85, 86). The centering plates (87, 88) connect with and are driven by two drive units (93, 94) to affect synchronous counter-movements. When being driven toward each other, the centering plates (87,88) touch outer sides of tires of a car resting on the trace plates (82, 83) and move the car toward a centerline (95) of the entrance gate (110), until the centerline (95) of the car is aligned with the centerline (95) of the entrance gate (110).

Description

ENTRANCE GATE FOR AN AUTOMATIC PARKING GARAGE HAVING MECHANISM FOR CENTERING A VEHICLE ON THE ENTRANCE GATE

[0001 ] The present invention relates to an entrance gate for an automatic parking installation having an entrance gate that enables centering a vehicle resting on the entrance gate, and inspection of the parking brake of the vehicle. An automatic parking installation is disclosed in WO2006/039830 and further includes a robot enabling lifting the vehicle from the entrance gate and depositing the vehicle to a parking space independent of wheels of the vehicle.

[0002] The invention concerns a device and a method for centering the private vehicles on a platform, gripping them and transporting them quickly, in order to park them in a space-saving way, and upon request getting them again from the parked position automatically and handing them over to the user.

[0003] In combination with a modular design, such that this device can be quickly and easily mounted, dismantled and remounted, this is a less costly alternative for indoor car parks, parking silos, multi-storeyed car parks and similar systems with a higher utilization of space.

[0004] Private vehicles are parked on the road, in parking lots, in garages, multi- storeyed car parks or also in access-controlled automated parking systems. In the typical multi-storeyed car parks, only about 40% of the ground area and around 30% of the enclosed volume can be used for parking the private vehicles. While an average automobile is about 1.7 m wide, 1.6 m high and 4.4. m long, which results in a cubic volume of around 12 m³, the regular multi-storeyed car parks and parking systems include a volume of up to 80 m³ and more per vehicle. In contrast to the earlier models, the modern cars with their compact motors are no longer rectangular in their shape. These taper conically or in oval shape mainly at the front, starting from the rear-view mirror at the side, for which reason a rectangular parking area cannot be used optimally. A lot of valuable space is thus lost in the usual parking systems through entry and exit paths, maneuvering, space for opening doors, stairs, lifts, footway, solid pillars and beams, the minimum floor height for persons, as well as escape routes, illumination and fire-extinguishing systems etc. Parking needs time and skill and is perceived as unpleasant.

[0005] In other systems the cars are lifted high with lifting systems, in order to save place, and then these are parked closely by staff (valet parking). This makes parking more expensive and increases the access time.

[0006] In the existing parking systems, it is necessary to drive-in the car exactly in a parking slot for parking, where the driver automatically receives instructions for centering the vehicle on a palette. These palettes, which are needed for displacing the vehicle, show a rectangular area with the minimum length and width of the largest car to be parked, plus tolerances for inaccurate parking and maneuvering. As such, more area is needed than the effective average ground area of the vehicle. Furthermore, before each parking these palettes must be procured or replaced, which needs a complicated mechanism and extensive control and consumes a lot of time and space.

[0007] In case of other systems with fixed platforms hanging from vertical chains, which can be seen occasionally in Asia, the enclosed space can be used only poorly and the long access time restricts the actual number of parking spots.

[0008] The known systems are designed as fixed structures, which do not permit an economical and quick parking and hence are suitable only for the long-term permanent usage. The long construction time, high investments and the long-term retention have an investment-dampening effect. [0009] It is therefore an objective of this invention to provide an entrance gate for an automatic parking garage which allows the centering of a vehicle on the entrance gate on which the car then can be gripped by a robot and conveyed to a pre-determined parking lot into which it fits tightly.

[0010] The problem is solved by an entrance gate for a parking garage which does comprise the features and characteristics as claimed in the independent claim 1 while the dependent claims are directed to particularly advantageous executions of such an entrance gate.

[001 1 ] The advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing exemplary embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a an explosive view of all the parts of the entrance gate;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the entrance gate;

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the entrance gate;

Fig. 4 shows the entrance gate with the wheels and axles of a car on it, before centering the car;

Fig. 5 shows the entrance gate with the wheels and axles of a car on it, after centering the car.

It is noted that in the drawings like numerals refer to like components.

[0012] The present invention is directed to an entrance gate for a parking garage. In Figure 1 , an explosive view of all the parts of the entrance gate is shown. The entrance gate 1 10 comprises at least one stationary ground plate 81 ; two separate trace plates 82,83 beside each other, each adapted to receive thereon a front and rear wheel of a car; the trace plates laid on a top surface of the stationary ground plate, movable in the plane in any direction on the top surface of the ground plate in a gliding manner; a stationary top plate 84 disposed above the two trace plates 82,83, the top plate 84 having two elongated cut-out windows 85,86 on opposing sides of a longitudinal centerline of the top plate 84 and each of the two trace plates 82,83 being exposed through one of the cut-out windows 85,86; the trace plates 82,83 movable relative to the top plate 84 and the cut-out windows 85,86; and two centering plates 87,88 laid on top of the stationary top plate 84, disposed on two opposing outer sides of the cut-out windows 85,86; the centering plates 87,88 being connected to two stationary drive units 93,94, the stationary drive units driving synchronous counter- movements of the centering plates 87,88; each centering plate movable toward the longitudinal centerline of the top plate 84, wherein when the centering plates 87,88 are driven toward each other by the stationary drive units 93,94, the centering plates 87,88 touch outer sides of tires of the car resting on the trace plates 82,83 and move the car toward a centerline 95 of the entrance gate, until a longitudinal centerline of the car is in alignment with the centerline of the entrance gate 1 10.

[0013] In the entrance gate, each of the stationary drive units 93,94 is connected to elongated jackshafts 89,90 extending on both sides of one the stationary drive unit, and the jackshafts move synchronous in counter movements. The centering plates 87,88 are connected to the two stationary drive units 93,94 by the jackshafts 89,90. The trace plates 82,83 are connected to a second drive unit 97,98 and are pushable and pullable in a general longitudinal direction of the trace plates 82,83 by the second drive unit 97,98. The second drive unit is equipped with a sensor adapted to determine a resistance force against a counter movement between the trace plates 82,83 in the longitudinal direction thereof affected by the second drive unit 97,98.

[0014] The method comprises receiving a car on an entrance gate of the present invention, as received, tires of the car resting on areas of the trace plates 82,83 exposed through the cut-out windows 85,86; activating the stationary drive units 93,94 to drive the centering plates 87,88 toward each other, thereby the centering plates 87,88 touch the outer sides of tires of the car resting on the trace plates 82,83, and move the car toward a centerline of the entrance gate until a longitudinal centerline of the car is in alignment with the centerline of the entrance gate 1 10; and moving a robot underneath the car along the centerline of the entrance gate, activating four roller forks of the robot to cause roller fingers of each of the forks moving together to squeeze on one tire of the car between the roller fingers, and thereby lifting the car slightly above the trace plates 82,83; rolling the robot out from the entrance gate 1 10 and into a lift platform without the tires of the car touching the ground; moving the lift platform vertically to one level of multiple decks, next to a parking space; and rolling the robot into the parking space, and lowering the car to have the tires resting on the parking space. In the method, the robot lifts the car at least two centimeters above the trace plates.

[0015] The method further comprises, prior to centering the car, activating a second drive unit 97,98 connected to the trace plates 82,83 to cause a counter movement between the trace plates 82,83 in a longitudinal direction thereof; measuring a resistance force of the trace plates 82,83 against the counter movement; and indicating acceptable parking brake if measured resistance force exceeds a predetermined threshold.

[0016] Therefore, the present invention provides an entrance gate for such an automatic parking garage, and this entrance gate enables the automatic centering of a vehicle resting upon, and further enables inspection of the parking brake of the vehicle.

[0017] Such a car parking installation then enables efficient, safe, economical and highly space-efficient parking of cars on down to a centimeter accuracy, on circular decks at several parking levels, which are arranged one above another. In the center, one or two lifts are installed, in order to bring the vehicles to the correct floor level and into the chosen direction for pushing them into an open space and to park it there. The vehicles will be accurately measured, that the shade of the car on the ground is determined, and thus the exact length and width and the lateral contour of the car to take account of lateral protruding outside mirrors, and also for considering the rounded front end of many cars. In addition, the maximum height is measured with a photoelectric sensor to select the required parking deck level at different heights to park a single vehicle. A sports car needs a far less height at a parking deck than a high SUV does.

[0018] Once a vehicle is deposited on the entrance gate 1 10, a robot rolls on the longitudinal centerline of the car underneath its body from the front side of the car. Four arms on the side of the robot are the extending towards the four wheels of the car, and roller fingers at the front ends of the arms swivel together and squeeze a tire in between them, thereby lifting the car slightly above the ground, preferably at least 2 centimeters (cm), more preferably about 2 to 3 cm. Then, the vehicle can be pulled by the robot without the tires of the vehicle touching the ground, that is on the rolls of the robot, into the lift platform, and later in opposite direction out of the lift platform into a selected parking lot.

[0019] However, before the robot can go into action, the car driven onto the entrance gate 1 10 must be checked and centered on the entrance gate. It should also be ensured that the parking brake is actuated and that such park brake does sufficiently block the car on the ground surface. The mere blocking of the car by putting the gear shift into a gear lever, or putting it on P when the car has an automatic gear is not sufficient for a reliable car blocking and will not be accepted by the parking system. Furthermore, the car, once deposited on the entrance gate, needs to be centered on it. Only then, the robot which always moves along the same line, will move exactly along the longitudinal centerline of the car, even if the car was deposited in an acute angle to the centerline of the entrance gate initially. [0020] As further shown in Fig. 1 , there are support elements 92 positioned in the concrete ground. On these support elements, the ground plates 81 rest. The drives comprise two stationary drive units 93,94 at the centerline 95 of the entire entrance gate, and arranged underneath the top plate. On both sides of each stationary drive unit 93,94, there is a jackscrew/jackshaft 89,90 extending toward the outer side of the entrance gate, shown in transverse to the longitudinal centerline of the top plate 84. At the ends of the jackshafts, there are connecting elements 96 to be connected to the outer edge sections of the centering plates 87,88. The connecting elements 96 have bolts 103 at their ends, extending upwards. These bolts 103 can extend within the longitudinal slits 99 along the outer edge sections of the centering plates 87,88.

[0021 ] When the ground plates 81 rest on the support elements 92, the stationary drive units 93,94 and their jackscrews 89,90 remain below the top surface of the ground plates 81. On top of the ground plates 81 rest the trace plates 82,83 in a gliding manner so they can be moved in any direction. That is the trace plates 82,83 can glide in any direction on the top surface of the ground plates 81 , as indicated with the two arrows on trace plate 83. A lubricating grease between the trace plates 82,83 and the ground plates 81 helps moving the trace plates on them. Now, on at least one end of the trace plates 82,83, there is a drive unit 97,98 for pulling and pushing these trace plates in their longitudinal direction and for measuring the required force to do that.

[0022] On top of the trace plates 82,83, there is a stationary top plate 84, either resting on the top surface of the trace plates 82,83 so the trace plates 82,83 can glide relative to the top plate 84 along the lower side of the top plate. In an alternative construction, the plate 84 is not resting on the trace plates 82,83 but rather mounted and supported separately at its edge, with a minimal distance of, e.g. 1 mm, to these trace plates 82,83. Any small stones or dirt which may fall onto the trace plates 82,83 must be removed regularly with a vacuum cleaner. These vacuum cleaner can be part of an automatic installation so the entrance gate will be cleaned after a certain number of cycles of use. [0023] The trace plates 82,83 are also connected to each other with a pneumatic piston/cylinder 91 so that they are always pushed away from each other to reach an initial position in which they are being set apart from each other. On top of top plate 84, along their longitudinal sides, the centering plates 87,88 rest in a gliding manner. They are guided along longitudinal slits 99, into which bolts 103 extend, and these bolts are movable also along the transverse slits 100 in the top plate 84. Therefore, the centering plates 87,88 can move in any direction on top of the top plate 84 as shown with the arrows. Triangles 101 are cut out of the outer edge of the windows 85,86 of the top plate 84. Protruding elements 102, such as bolts, are extending from the bottom side of the centering plates 87,88 down into the triangle cut outs 101 of the outer edge of the windows 85,86 in the top plate 84. Therefore, the centering plates 87,88, when moved away from each other, are always returning into a neutral initial position in relation to the top plate 84 since the protruding elements 102 are sliding along the edges of the triangle 101 cut out to their outer corner, thereby centering the centering plates in their longitudinal direction.

[0024] In Fig. 2, the entrance gate is shown in a view from above. The top plate 84 with its two elongated windows 85,86 is mounted overhead the two separate trace plates 82,83. On their both outer sides, the centering plates 87,88 are laying on the top plate 84 and can glide in any direction on the top plate 84. Bolts 103 can glide along the slits 99, and they also glide along the slits 100 (Fig. 1 ) in the top plate 84, when then centering plates 87,88 are being pulled toward each other for centering a car in between, and for moving pack into their initial position as shown in Fig. 2.

[0025] In Fig. 3, the entrance gate 1 10 is shown in a view from below. One can recognize the support elements 92, and the ground plates 81 resting on them. There are two stationary drive units 93,94, each one with jackshafts 89,90, respectively, which are extending on both sides of the stationary drive unit and which move synchronous in counter movements. If they pull the centering plate 87,88 on the one side toward the drive unit, the centering plate 87,88 on the other side will also be pulled toward the drive unit in a simultaneous movement. The trace plates 82,83 are also connected to each other with a drive unit, e.g. a pneumatic piston/cylinder 91 or by means of pushing springs, so that they are always pushed away from each other to reach an initial position in which they are being set apart from each other.

[0026] Fig. 4 shows the initial situation, when a car 120 is rested on the entrance gate 1 10. Only the axles, the four wheels and the chassis bar which connects the front and rear axle are shown. The car stands with an acute angel to the centerline 95 of the entrance gate. As soon as the car is there, as a first measure, the system checks whether the parking brake is activated. For this purpose, the trace plates 82,83 are being moved by their drive units 97,98 (Fig. 1 ) in longitudinal direction in a counter movement to each other. While doing this, the drive units 97,98 measure the resistance force and if this resistance force does reach a certain preset value, one can be sure that the parking brake is activated. In contradiction, if only a gear would be engage, the wheels on both sides of a particular axle can move in counter movements without any substantial resistance force. This is also the case when only the gear shift is on position P in the case of an automatic gear. Once the system has checked that the parking brake is actuated and causes a sufficient resistance force, a green light and beep will signal to the driver that he can now leave his car. Next, the car will be centered automatically on the entrance gate. For doing this, the centering plates 87,88 on both sides are moving in synchronous manner toward each other. The first one which touches the outer side of a tire will henceforth push this tire and wheel toward the centerline 95 of the entrance gate, and each centering plate, as soon as touching the outer side of a tire in likewise manner, will also push the tire and wheel toward the center-line 95 of the entrance gate. While the car is moved for centering in this manner, the trace plates 82,83 on which the wheels rest, are gliding in the required direction until the car reaches the position as shown in Fig. 5, at which the longitudinal centerline of the car is in alignment with the centerline of the entrance gate. Now, the robot can be moved underneath the car. The robot lifts the car by lifting its tires and pulls the car away from the entrance gate into the lift platform. As soon as the trace plates 82,83 are free of a car, they are being pushed away from each other and assume an initial position for receiving the next car for inspection and centering. Also the centering plates 87,88, are being moved away from each other in order to reach their most outer position and they are at the same time being centered in their longitudinal direction for reaching an initial position.

[0027] While the present invention has been described in detail and pictorially shown in the accompanying drawings, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the present invention, but rather as an exemplification of preferred embodiments thereof. It will be apparent, however, that various modifications and changes can be made within the spirit and the scope of this invention as described in the above specification and defined in the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

Claims

Patent Claims

1. An entrance gate (1 10) for a parking garage, comprising:

• at least one stationary ground plate (81 );

• two separate trace plates (82,83) beside each other, each adapted to receive thereon a front and rear wheel of a car; said trace plates (82,83) laid on a top surface of said stationary ground plate (81 ), movable in the plane in any direction on said top surface of said ground plate (81 ) in a gliding manner;

• a stationary top plate (84) disposed above said two trace plates (82,83), said top plate (84) having two elongated cut-out windows (85,86) on opposing sides of a longitudinal centerline of said top plate and each of said two trace plates (82,83) being exposed through one of said cut-out windows (85,86); said trace plates (82,83) movable relative to said top plate (84) and said cut-out windows (85,86); and

• two centering plates (87,88) laid on top of said stationary top plate (84), disposed on two opposing outer sides of said cut-out windows (85,86); said centering plates (87,88) being connected to two stationary drive units (93,94), said stationary drive units driving synchronous counter-movements of said centering plates (87,88); each centering plate movable toward said longitudinal centerline of said top plate (84);

• wherein when said centering plates (87,88) are driven toward each other by said stationary drive units (93,94), said centering plates (87,88) touch outer sides of tires of the car resting on said trace plates (82,83) and move the car toward a centerline (95) of said entrance gate (1 10), until a longitudinal centerline of the car is in alignment with said centerline of said entrance gate (1 10).

2. The entrance gate for a parking garage of claim 1 , wherein each of said stationary drive units (93,94) is connected to elongated jackshafts (89,90) extending on both sides of one said stationary drive unit (93,94), and said jackshafts (89,90) move synchronous in counter movements.

3. The entrance gate for a parking garage of claim 2, wherein said centering plates (87,88) are connected to said two stationary drive units (93,94) by said jackshafts (89,90), with outer edge sections of said centering plates (87,88) connecting to two opposing ends of said jackshafts (89,90) by connecting elements (96, 103).

4. The entrance gate for a parking garage of claim 3, wherein each of said centering plates (87,88) includes longitudinal slits (99), said two opposing ends of said jackshafts (89,90) are connected to said centering plates (87,88) by said connecting elements through said longitudinal slits (99).

5. The entrance gate for a parking garage of claim 4, wherein said centering plates (87,88) are further moveable in longitudinal direction thereof along said longitudinal slits (99).

6. The entrance gate for a parking garage of claim 4, wherein said top plate (84) further comprises two pairs of transverse slits (100), each pair disposed on one of said opposing outer sides of said cut-out windows (85,86), and said centering plates (87,88) are connected to said jackshafts (89,90) through said two pairs of transverse slits (100).

7. The entrance gate for a parking garage of claim 1 , wherein said top plate (84) further comprises two opposing triangular cut-outs (101 ), each extending outward from one of said cut out windows (85,86); and a protruding element (102) on a bottom side of each of said centering plates (87,88) extends into one of said triangular cut-outs (101 ).

8. The entrance gate for a parking garage of claim 1 , wherein said trace plates (82,83) are connected to a second drive unit (97,98) and are pushable and pullable in a general longitudinal direction of said trace plates (82,83) by said second drive unit (97,98); and said second drive unit (97,98) is equipped with a sensor adapted to determine a resistance force against a counter movement between said trace plates (82,83) in said longitudinal direction thereof affected by said second drive unit (97,98).

9. The entrance gate for a parking garage of claim 1 , wherein said trace plates (82,83) are connected to each other with a further drive unit (91 ), said further drive unit pushes said two trace plates (82,83) apart from each other.